Formed by high- school friends Kirstie Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, and Scott Hoying, the group got its initial start after its version of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga's "Telephone," recorded for a local Glee- related contest, started garnering attention on You. Tube. The band then added members Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola, renamed itself Pentatonix, and auditioned..